Uplift The Heavy Soul

Creative ideas, in my opinion, show their value in that,
like keys, they help to "unlock" hitherto unintelligible connections of facts and thus enable man to penetrate deeper into the mystery of life.

M. L. von Franz

CONCLUSION:  MAN AND HIS SYMBOLS, by C. G. Jung

To watch a musician perform or to observe an artist in the depths of artistic expression, it is obvious he or she is caught in another world.  An athlete would call it 'being in the zone' or a spiritual writer might refer to it as 'being in the flow'.  Either way, a person who 'gets lost in work or play' seem to be distracted from the mundane and opened to the mystery of life.

We are not all highly evolved artists nor do we all have degrees in psychology, but we all have been using the art of creative distraction throughout our lives. 

As a young mother of four, if I wanted to know what was going on in my children's lives, I would have a snack prepared.  As soon as they entered the house, they would gather around the table.  As they gobbled up their treats, I would gently ask them questions and successfully receive answers normally not disclosed under interrogation.  If I were concerned about one child in particular, I would invite him or her to color with me or help to prepare dinner.

When we know a friend is troubled, we invite them to lunch or an outing in nature or perhaps the shopping mall.  Being physically distracted, our emotions release more easily.  

If we engage in a creative project, it distracts us from our worries and self-expression flows with a higher energy.  We escape the present concerns, and focus on the moment suspended from our pressing issues.

This holds true in therapy with children.  Play therapy is a wonderful tool for enabling the therapist to become a part of the child's world where more natural conversation can unfold without the child feeling pressured.   

Many years ago, I kept a cat at my counseling office for this very purpose ... distraction.  The cat would invariably sit on the client's lap and he or she would gently begin to stroke the purring feline.  This physical movement distracted the brain or ego, allowing the person to express more fully.  The gentle vibration of the purring seemed to relax and calm even those who had very little appreciation for animals.

So once again we come across another resource to support and nurture ourselves without financial investment or month ahead scheduling.  When we find

ourselves overwhelmed, saddened, or disconnected, we can easily use a means of self-expression giving the mysteries of life the opportunity to uplift the heavy soul.